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Lurie Children’s Home Ways to HelpWays to Give National Awareness Month & Day Calendar

National Awareness Month & Day Calendar

National awareness holidays and national health observances are special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Observances like Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Sickle Cell Awareness Month help amplify stories and rally support for the kids who need it the most. 

Awareness months, weeks and days help bring a greater understanding of illnesses and issues that affect children. Awareness days and observances are a great time to fundraise, spread the word or reach out to friends or family members who are facing a diagnosis or illness. Find out how you can help. 

Browse a list of awareness months and days:

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

January

  • National Blood Donor Month
  • Thyroid Awareness Month

February

  • American Heart Month
  • National Cancer Prevention Month
  • Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7–14)
  • World Cancer Day (February 4)
  • National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7)

March

  • Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
  • National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
  • National Kidney Month
  • National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
  • World Kidney Day (March 11)
  • Purple Day for epilepsy awareness (March 26)
  • National Doctors Day (March 30)

April

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
  • National Autism Awareness Month
  • National Child Abuse Prevention Month
  • National Donate Life Month
  • National Minority Health Month
  • National Parkinson’s Awareness Month
  • National Public Health Week (April 1- 7)
  • National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (April 10)
  • Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month
  • National Superhero Day

May

  • American Stroke Awareness Month
  • Arthritis Awareness Month
  • Brain Tumor Awareness Month
  • Better Hearing and Speech Month
  • Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
  • Healthy Vision Month
  • Hepatitis Awareness Month
  • Lupus Awareness Month
  • Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
  • National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
  • National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
  • National Nurses Day (May 6)
  • Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 3 – 9)
  • Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 9 – 15)

June

  • National Safety Month
  • Scoliosis Awareness Month
  • Pride Month
  • National Cancer Survivors Day (June 6)
  • Lurie Children's Day (June 9)
  • Family Health and Fitness Day (June 12)
  • Autistic Pride Day (June 18)

July

  • Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
  • National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month
  • Sarcoma Awareness Month

August

  • National Make-a-Will Month
  • Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
  • National Immunization Awareness Month
  • National Breastfeeding Month
  • World Breastfeeding Week
  • National Health Center Week
  • Lung Cancer Day
  • International Overdose Awareness Day

September

  • Alopecia Areata Awareness Month
  • Blood Cancer Awareness Month
  • Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
  • National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
  • Deaf Awareness Month
  • Pain Awareness Month
  • Sickle Cell Awareness Month
  • Sepsis Awareness Month
  • Newborn Screening Awareness Month
  • National Food Safety Education Month
  • National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month
  • Malnutrition Awareness Week
  • National Suicide Prevention Week 
  • World Heart Day
  • World Sepsis Day
  • World Suicide Prevention Day

October

  • National ADHD Awareness Month
  • National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
  • National Physical Therapy Month
  • Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
  • Spina Bifida Awareness Month
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
  • Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 3-9)
  • Malnutrition Awareness Week (October 4-8)
  • World Cerebral Palsy Day (October 6)
  • National Depression Screening Day (October 7)
  • World Mental Health Day (October 10)

November

  • American Diabetes Month
  • Bladder Health Month
  • Diabetic Eye Disease Month
  • Lung Cancer Awareness Month
  • National Epilepsy Awareness Month
  • National Healthy Skin Month
  • National Hospice Palliative Care Month
  • National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
  • Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
  • Prematurity Awareness Month
  • Transgender Awareness Week (2nd week in November)     
  • World Pneumonia Day (November 12)
  • World Prematurity Day (November 17)
  • Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving)

December

  • National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 1 -7)
  • World AIDS Day (December 1)
  • International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)

How You Can Help

Lurie Children’s works to improve the health and well-being of patients affected by childhood illnesses. With your support, we can ensure that every child has the chance at a healthier future. 

Start a Fundraiser

Donate your birthday. Host a lemonade stand. Climb a mountain. You can do anything to raise money for the patients and families at Lurie Children’s! By creating a fundraiser, you help amplify our mission to provide healthier futures for kids.

Learn More

Make a Donation

As a nonprofit hospital, we rely on your support to research better treatments and cures for kids. Your gift can also help support families facing a difficult diagnosis and treatment.      

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Spread the Word

Your voice can change the future for kids. Increased awareness of childhood illnesses will help drive funding for research, treatment and care. Spread the word on social media.

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Impact Delivered to Your Inbox

Every Child Update is a monthly e-newsletter from Lurie Children's focusing on inspiring patient stories, advances in patient care and research, and opportunities to get involved with the hospital.